Answers From the Field – March

How you do feel about the recent conversation that “millennials must hunt” or “hipster hunters”? Is it becoming “hip” to hunt your own food?

Lacey B. from Austin, Texas

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H. Utley:

I fully support anyone looking to start hunting and harvesting their own food. I think the increased popularity of hunting is a positive thing but I am wary of people who want to go out hunting with no guidance or respect for the wilderness. Carelessness/unpreparedness can spell disaster for hunter and hunted alike. So to all the “hipster hunters”: find a mentor, hunting is not to be taken lightly, enjoy yourself, and respect the wild. Oh and enjoy your harvest, you will not find a better meal any where else!

J. Townsend:

I think that the growth of popularity of hunting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I am weary though when people are out their for the wrong reasons or lack the education to focus on safety, conservation, and responsible hunting. I welcome people to the sport and understand the draw for someone who wants to learn to harvest their own food. I don’t think labels such as “hipster hunters” or even the use of “redneck hunters” should be used. We need to focus on properly educating people about hunting to help raise support and awareness, not focus on where they came from or to what social group they belong.

G. Ford:

I’ve seen this trend developing strongly over the past few years, and I am all for it!  Everyone should care about and take part in where there food comes from.  I don’t care what your background is.  The more people that are hunting, the more people there are supporting hunting ethics, wildlife habitat conservation efforts, land management, etc.  Any day of the week, a country full of “hipster hunters” is a lot better than a country full of oblivious, do-nothing, coffee shop hipsters.

H. Dulaney:

As an individual that does not support factory farming I love that people are becoming educated instead of judgmental and are going out and providing for themselves and their families. It is so important to me to have such a personal connection with the food on the table. With that being said it is essential to know firearm safety as well as obtain knowledge for the animal and environment in which you are hunting as well as complete respect for the animals harvested and the outdoors. As far as “Hipster Hunters” go, I do not agree with the labeling of these said new hunters. If these “Hipsters” are hitting the woods and are going about it the correct way then they sound like normal outdoorsmen and women to me and should be treated as such.

M. Spencer:

I have quite a few “hipster” friends. Some of which are vegetarian, vegan, free range this, organic that folks, so in a way, it makes sense. If they want to learn to hunt and prepare their own food more power to em… They’re already dressed for it at least!

J. McFarland:

There is a lack of hipster/millennials here in Alaska (I actually had to google what a millennial was), so I can’t say anything about them or hunting related.  But I can say that the majority of people in AK rely on game meat for the bulk of their annual diet.  And if hunting for your food is ‘cool’, then there are a lot of cool people in Alaska.

K. Mårtensson:

C. Duff: